The Wyandot pioneer., July 14, 1853, Image 1

About The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868

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VOL. I, NO. 12.
UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO,- THURSDAY, JULY 1853.
WHOLE NO. '39o.
1
4'
ft-
' THE CASE DECIDED.
lif MURPHY, I'll MELODrST.
Three beautiful youths, Rory Murdock, 'the
Weaver. t ; ; O'Keefe,
rt PaVBranuon; the Blacksmith, and Thady
(The Jaat vu the darling that handled the
With a grace and dexterity p'asCall belief,) 1
In love had contended for O'Callaghatfs daugh
ten . " V
She atood in the bar of he? father's ; water,
And oft as they wallowed their whisky and
They ! locked up their 'eyes at' the beautiful
; 1 4 k"bclle.i i '" J
.. She loved tlicin all three, with equal affection,
. -i And 'twas quite imruaterial which she should
,..chooe.,.-.Vi . ;. .
- For Rory and Pat had no points of objection,
' " And.Thady no sensible girl could refuse
liut the boys were Impatient, and begged a de
' v ;." ; cision: - ., ...i i .,
j. She blushed like a turtle and thus she replied:
. j'Who. best of, you three shall .discharge;. my
.. commission, .. ,; yt , ,,, ( bride,
vThe same shall behold ine on Wednesday his
"A twig of the loveliest plant in creation ' '
, Let each fetch to-niorrow; this task, sirs, will
,. v . prove .... ; ;.- .'
,Who has the moat skill, iu acute, observation.
.,. And this is the man I shall ardently love.".
AH b6wdat these words, and went out of her
' presence,-. s , . vi ' .
' j '. And Rory and Pat studied hard all the night;
But Thady, indulged in Barley's quintessence,
' Was as blue as a razor and almost as bright
. '
1 ' The time had arrived for the boys to assemble,
And soon the judge called them op to the bar;
.' You may guess how their hearts with emotion
: . v; v .v did tremble,--' '; ' r ' " ;
As each took hla bitters and lit his cigar. 1
, "First Rosy addressed her? ' '.'Adorable creature;
"' 'That which is most useful is loveliest, too, i
a 'And so I have fetched yoii a sprig of potatoe;
fAnd my love, like its blossoms, shall yearly
renew," , you Rory.
' -"Very weli, said the! maid, "and good luck to
.Now," Pat, it's you turn." "Yes, my honey'
.-6ayBhW:: V"- r;i ' ' gW?-
Ie there anght fn Creation more lovely than
. ; And I "ve brenght you a trig of that very same
! ! treeJ '' . '-r s 1 '! "y '
i Old Ttye U the plant that awakens the spirit,
' And makes it With ardor and energy swell;
The hero and poet acknowledge its merit. 1 ;
i And faithful affection its witness can tell.''
"0ood again'" said the maid,. "that's a bit of a
.-,." , 0 " .: t -v-
' ! "-.stumper 1 . . -r... j , ;.j SJ-.; $( f- ri- f.j,.
; 'But, Thady, don't give up so soon in despair,"
'Is it me?" answered Thady "just, fill me a
. , ', bumber, . . ,.? - r
' "And I'll settle this matter all snug to a hair.
PWtatoes arc good in their place, darling-really,
Old Rye is still better; lut nature can'l show
A fprig to compare with this Sprig of Shillalah
. As Ilory and Patrick shall presently know,"
"Take this, then,", said he, "fer your usefulness
'., ; Rory,"-: -- -. ...... . ;'
1 ' And fetched him a clew along side of the head:
. "And, Patrick; take this, if you please for
your 'glory,'
i.
"Well done, now, my darling superlative Thady!
' The maid thus exclaimed, as his rivals retired
tec that faint heart never one the fair lady,
And yours is the sprigI have chiefly admired.
.... - ' 1 '" 1 . . . ,
. .... .. . 1 .
, i ! From Gleason's Pictorial.
THE COSSACK.
, " A TALE OF EASTERN EUROUPE.
,!.
BT FBAXCtS A. DCIUVAGE.
... v
CHAPTER I.
I'd give .
The Ukraine back again to live .'"
It o'er once more and be a page,' "
i The happy page, who was the lord
t Of one, soft heart and his own sword. , ,
- - JIazpita'.
-ft
, Cotjst WiLLKiTZwas. striding to and fro
in the old hall of his ancestral castle- in
the- heart " of ; Lithuania1, Through the
'"high and narrow gothic windows, the
' light fell dimly ; Into the cold apartment,
just glancing on the massive pillars, and
bringing into faint relief the dusty ban
ners and old trophies of arms that; hung
along the walls, for the wintry day was
; hear its close. :, .The count was a dark-
t browed; stern-featured 1 man. ' His cold,
gray eyes were sunken in their orbits, and
"deep lines -were drawn about his mouth,
as if some secret grief were gnawing at
his vitals. And, indeed, good cause ex
isted for his sorrow;, for, but a. few days
"previously, he had lost his wife. They
had, buried the countess at' midnight, as
was the custom of the family, in the old
ancestral vault of the castle; vassal and
serf had waved their torches over the
black throat of the grave, and the wail of
' women had gone up through the rocky
arches. Still, the count had. bc&n seen to
shed no tear, An old warrior, schooled
in the stern academy of military life,' he
had early learned to conquer his emotions;
indeed, there were those,' who said that
nature, in moulding his aristocratic form,
had forgotten to provide it with a heart ;
and this legend found facile credence with
the Cowering serfs who owned his sway,
and the ill-paid soldiers .who followed his
banner. The Jast male descendant of a
"long and jaoble line, he was ill able to
' maintain the splendor of his family name;
' for his dominions had been curtailed o
'their fair proportion,' and his .finances
were in a disordered state, . . .
As, like Hardykaauteinthe oldiballad,
' ' "Stately strode be east the wa ; '
' - i" And stately strode ie west,"
thorkntcred a figure alnwstas grira -and
iterrwa himself. This ww an old wo
. maaorfao now filled the .Qtee of hose-
; keeper having succeeded to full sxvay An
;jne aeawi 01 me coumess, the young
daughter of the count being unable ' or
1 unwilling to assume any care in the house
. ' .hold.' " '
i 'Well, dame,' said the count, pausing
jn his walk, and confronting the woman,
How; goes it with you? and how with
, Alvina? Still sorrowing over her mothers
, death?' ' , .. , ;.-;V-;
'The tears of a maiden are like the dews
' iintthe morning, count replied the old
nuraan. -j.ne nrst sunDcam aries mem
f u :
it "J
f'And what ray1, of joy can penetrate the
dismal hole?', asked the count,
'Do you remember the golden bracelet
you gave your ladydaughteir on her wedding-day?'
inquired the old woman, fix
ing her keen gray eye on her master's
face as she spoke. .'..; .
Ay,- well replied vhe count. 'Golden
gifts are not so easily obtained of late,
that I should forget their bestowal. But
what of the bauble?' ; , ! ;
.. j fl saw itin the hands of the page
exis .when ; he ; thought, himself unob-
serv
: 'How?' cried the count, his cheek first
reddening and then becoming deadly pale
with anger. 'Is the blood of , the gitano
asserting its claim? -. Hasjhe begun to pil
fer? ' The dog shall halig from the high
est battlementof the castle!', ' '"
Hay it not have been a free gift, sir
count?' suggested the hideous-hag.
' 'A free gift! what mean you? A love
token? Ha! dare you insinuate? and yet
her blood is' ., ,
Hush! walls have sometimes ears,' said
the old woman, looking cautiously around.
'This gipsy child you picked xip in the
forest is how almost a man ; your daugh
ter is a woman. The page is beautiful;
they have been thrown much together.
Alvina is lonely, romantic'
'Enough, enough!" said the count, stam
ping his foot. 'I will watch him.' If your
suspicions be correct,' he paused, andad-
! ., , ..... "
ded between his clenched teeth, -I shall
know how to punish the daring of the dog.
Awayl:-N f- '
J The'old woman hobbled away, rubbing
her skinny hands together, and chuckling
at the prospect of having her hatred, of
the young countess and the page, both of
whom had excited her malevolence, speed
ily gratified. ' ', . '
. ; Count Willhitz was on the eve of a
journey to Paris with his : daughter; they
were to" start in a ; dav or two. i This cir
cumstance brought on the 'adventure we
shall speedily relate. . " . ; v ,
v Between Alexis, the ' beautiful page,
whom the late countess had found and
fancied among the wandering Bohemian
horde, and the high-bora daughter of the
feudal house, an attachment had sprung
up, nurtured by the isolation in which
they lived, and the romantic character and
youth of the parties. About to be separ
ated from his mistres for a long time, the
page had implored her to grant him an in
terview, and the lovers met in an apart-
j(jeal!Hment joining the suite of rooms appropri-
ated to the countess, and where they were
little likely to be intruded upon. In the,
innocence of their hearts, theyhad not
dreamed that their looks and movements
had been watched, and they gave them
selves up to the happiness of unrestrained
converse. ; But at the moment when the
joy of . Alexis seemed purest and bright
est, the gathering thundercloud was over
han2:inr. At the moment when, sealing
his pledge of eternal fidelity, and memory
in absence, he. tremblingly printed a first
and holy kiss upon the blushing cheek of
Alvina,' an iron hand was laid upon his
shoulder, and, ; torn ruthlessly from the
spot, he was dashed against the wall, while
a terrible voice exclaimed: v ' '
'Dog, you shall reckon with me for this!'
Alvina threw herself at her father's
eet.. . , " " ' ' V ' '
: . 'jPardon pardon for Alexis,' father! I
alone am to blame.-' . --
Rise; rise!' thundered the fcount. 'Art
thou not sufficiently ; humiliated? Dare
,o breathe a w6rd in his favor,, and it shall
go hard with thy minipn. Punishment
thou canst not avert; say but a word and
that punishment becomes death; for he is
mine; soul arid body," to have and to hold,
to head or to hang; my vassal iny slave!
What ho, there!' ( . : ' . r, .
As he stamped his foot, a throng of at
tendants poured into the room .
Search me that fellow!' cried the count
pointing with his finger to Alexis.. '
: A dozen officer's hands examined the
person of . Alexis; one of them, more ea
ger than the rest, discovered a golden
bracelet, and brought it to the count.
'Ha!' cried the count, as he gazed upon
the trinket. -. 'Truly do I recognize this
bauble; ' Speak, do;! when srot'st thou
this?' ;7 ' i
Alvina was about to 'speak, and. ac
knowledge that she had bestowed it, but
before she could utter & syllabic, the page
exclaimed: ' ' .' v ' '
'I confess all I stole it.' ' '
Enough !' cried the count. 'D aughter,
retire to your apartment.'- , -
.'Father!' cried the wretched girl, wring
ing her hands. . ;
'Silence, countess! cried the count.with
terrific emphasis. 'Remember that I
wield the power of life and death' . . .
Casting one look of mute agony at the
undaunted page; the hapless lady retired
from the room. , , , ..''".'.
- iZabitzki,' said' the count, , addressing
the foremost of his attendants, 'take me
this thieving dog into the court-yard, and
Jay -fifty stripes upon his back., Then
bear him to the dungeon, in the eastern
turret that-overlooks the moat, there keep
him till you learn my farther pleasure.' ;
, Th page -tvas brave as steel. His cheek
did not blanch, :uor did his heart quail, as
he heard the dreadfl&l sentence.' His lips
uttered no unmanly entreaty for forgive
ness; but folding his arms, and drawing
up his elegant figure touts full height, he
fixed his eagle eye upon the count, with a
glance full of bitter hatred and juftittal de
fiance. And afterwards, when submitting j
to the ignominious punishment, with 'his
flesh lacerated by the scourge, no groan
escaped his lips, that might reach the list
ening ear of Alvina. He bore it all with
Spartan firmness.
Midnight had struck, when the young
countess, shrouded in a cloak, and bearing
a key which she had purchased by its
weight in gold, ascended to the eastern
turret, resolved to liberate the prisoner.
The door swung heavily back on its rust
ed hinges, as she cautiously entered the
dungeon. ' Drawing back the slide from
a lantern she carried in her left hand, she
threw its blaze before her, calling out at
the same time: .'Alexis!'
: Ko voice responded.
'They have murdered him!' she mur
mured, as she rushed forward, and
glanced wildly-around her.
The cell was empty. She sprang to
grated window. The bars had been sawn
through and wrenched apart, with the
exception of one from which a dangled
rope made of fragments of linen and
blankettwisted together. Had Alexis es
caped or perished in the attempt? The
moat was deep and broad, but the page
was a good swimmer and a good climber,
and his heart was above all proof. There
was little doubt in the mind of his mis
tress that fortune had favored him . Sink
ing ort her knees, she gave utterance to a
fervent thanksgiving to the Almighty
power which protected the , hapless boy,
and then retired to her couch to weep in
secret. The next day the castle rang
with the escape of ' Alexis.' Messengers
were sent out in every direction, but a fall
of snow in the latter part of the night
prevented the possibility of tracking him,
and even the dogs that the count put up
on the scent were completely baffled.
The next day the count and his daughter
started on their journey. -
11 CHAPTER II.
For timeat last sets all things even
And if we do but watch the hour, '
There never yet was human power
,v Which could evade, if unforgiven, '
, The patient search and vigil long
Of lura who treasures up a wrong.
' 7' .:;--v -Bvron.
. ' Years had passed away. The storm
of war had rolled over the country, and
the white eagle of Poland had ceased to
Wave over an independent land. Count
Willnitz and ; his daughter had returned
to the old castle; the former stern and
harsh as ever; the latter completely in the
power of an inexorable master. She had
received no tidings of Alexis, and had
given him up as lost to her forever. Her
father, straitened in his circumstances,
and menaced with ruin, had secured re
lief and safety by pledging his daughter's
hand to a wealthy nobleman, Count Ra
detsky, who was r ow in the castle, await
ing the fulfilment of the bargain.
'Go, my - child,' said the count,, with
mor? gentleness than he usually manifes
ted in his manner. , ' ou must prepare
yourself for the altar.'
'Father,' said the young girl, earnestly,
'does he knoAv that I love him not?' .
il have told him all, Alvina.' ,'
'And yet he is willing to wed me!' She
raised her eyes to heaven, rose, and slow
ly retired to her room. ; .
Louisa, the old woman presented in the
first scene of our, tale decked the unfor
tunate girl in her bridal robes,, and went
with her to the chapel, where her father
and Radetsky awaited her. Ah old priest
mumbled over the ceremony, and joined
the hands of the bride, and bridegroom.
The witnesses were few only the vassals
of the court, and no attempt at festivity
preceded or followed, the dismal ceremo
ny-; : . : .-' V.,
" , Alvina retired to her chamber when it
was over, promising to join her bridegroom
at the table in a few moments. ; ,' '
The housekeeper accompanied her,
'I give you joy, Countess Radetsky.'
said the old woman. ' '- '
'I sorely need it,' was the bitter answer.
'I have sacrificed myself to the duty I owe
my sole surviving parent.'
'The old i woman rubbed her hands and
chuckled,- as she noted the tone of anguish
these words "were uttered.
'I can now speak out,' she said. 'Af
ter, long silence, the, seal is removed
trom my lips. 1 can now repay your
childish scorn, and bitter jests, by a bit
terer jest than any you have yet dream
ed of. Countess Radetsky- '
'Spare, me that name,' said the coun
tess. i .
. 'Nay, t sweet, - it is one you will bear
through life,' said the hag, 'and you had
better accustom yourself early, to its
sound. Know, then, my sweet lady, that
the count, my master, had no claims on
your obedience.'
.-.'How?'
'He is a childless man. . He found you
an abandoned orphan. Struck with your
beauty, he brought you to his lady, and,
though they loved you not, they adopted
you, with a view to making your charms
useful to them when, you should have
grownup. The count has amply, paid
himself to-day for all the expense and
trouble you have put him to. He has
sold you to an eager suitor for a good
round price. Ha! ha!' ;
, 'And you knew this, and never told
me!' cried the hapless girl.
' 'I was bound by an' oath not to revca
the secret, till vou were, married. And I
did not love you enough to perjure my
self.'.;:;,, A- -'-, r .V: .;
'Wretch miserable wretch!' cried ,A1
viija.: Alas! to what a fate have 1 been
doomed. Ah! why did they not let me
rather perish than rear me , to this doom!
My heart is given to Alexis my harfd to
Radetsky!'
'Go down, sweet, to your bridegroom,'
said the old woman, who was totally deaf
to her complaints; 'or he will seek., you Vin
here.' .
Alvina descended to the banquet -hall,
uncertain what course to pursue. Escape
appeared impossible, and what little she
knew of Radetsky convinced her that he
was as pitiless and base as her reputed
father. She sank into a seat, pale, inani
mate ;and despairing;
At that moment, ere any one present
could say a word, a man, white with ter
ror, rushed into the hall, and stammered
out: '
'My lord count!'
'What is it, fellow, speak?'
'The Cossacks!', cried the man. And
his information was confirmed by a loud
hurrah, or rather yell, that rose without.
'Raise the drawbridge!' cried the count.
'Curses on it,' he added, 'I had forgotten
that drawbridge and portcullis; every
means of defence were gone long ago7
'The Cossacks that are in the court
yard ! cried a second servant, rushing
in. -
'A thousand curses on the dogs!' cried
Radetsky, drawing bis sword. 'Count,
look to your child,,! will to the court-yard
with your fellows, to do what we may.'
By , this time the court-yard of. the cas
tle was filled with uproar and turmoil.
The dashing of swords was mingled with
pistol-shots and groans, the shouts of tri
umph and the shrieks of, despair. Alvi
na,' left alone by her father and Radetsky,
trembled not at the prospect of approach
ing death; she felt only joy at her deliv
erance from the arms of a hated bridge
groom. But when the crackling of flames
was heard when' a lurid light streamed
up against the window when wreaths of
smoke began to pour in from the corridors
the instinct of self-preservation awakened
in her, breast, and almost unconsciously
she shrieked aloud for help. '.
Her appeal was answered unexpected
ly. A tall, plumed figue dashed into the
room; a vigorous arm was thrown around
her waist, and she was lifted from her feet,
Her unknown preserver, unimpeded by
her light weight, passed into the corridor
with a fleet step. The grand staircase was
already on fire, but drawing his furred
cloak closely around her, the stran
dashed through the flames, and. bore her
out into the court-yard. Almost, before
she knew, she was sitting behind him i.
a fiery steed. The rider gave the animal
the spur, and he dashed through the gate
followed by a hundred wild Cossacks
shouting and yelling in the frenzy of their
triumph. ' ,
Gratitude for an escape from a dread
ful death was now banished from Alvina's
mind bv the fear of a worse fate at the
ands of these wild men.
'You have saved mv life, she said to
her unknown companion, 'do not make
that life a curse. Take pity on an unfor
tunate and sorely persecuted girl. I have
no ransom to pay you, but free me, and
you will earn my daily prayers and bles
sings.
'Fear nothing,' answered a deep and
manly voice. 'No harm shall befall thee;
swear it on the word of a Cossack
chieftain.' : -
Alvina was tranquillized at once by the
evident sincerity of the assurance.
'You are alone now in the world,' pur
sued the stranger. 'I strove to save your
bridegroom, but he fell before I reached
him,' ' . ' .. . '
'I loved him not,' answered .Alvina,
coldly; fI mourn him not.' ' ,
-'You may hate me for the deed, said
the strange 'and I would fain .escape that
woe; but here, I avouch it in the face of
Heaven: Count' Willnitz fell by hand.
My sabre clove him to the teeth. . Years
had passed, but could not forget that he
once "laid the bloody,' scourge upon my
back!' ;
'Alexis!' cried Alvina, now recognizing
her preserver. ' - - '
'Yes, dear, but, unfortunate girl,' cried
the Cossack leader, turning and gazing on
the girl, 'I- feel that thou art lost to me
forever.: I have slain thy father. Love
for thee should have stayed my hand, but
I had swOrn an bath of vengeance, and I
kept my vow.'
'Alexis,' whispered Alvina, 'he was
not my father. He was my bitterest ene
my. Nor am I nobly born. Like you, I
am an orphan.'
'Say you so?' shouted the Cossack.
'Then thou art mine mine and forever
joy of my youth blessing of my man
hood!' ' ' -
'Yes, thine thine only.' . ." 1
'But bethink thee, sweetest,' said the
Cossack. 'I lead a strange wild life.',
I will share it with thee,' said Alvina,
firmly. , J -
'My companions are rude men.'
.'I shall see only thee.' , ,
.My home is the saddle, my, palace the
wide steppe.' - ;
With the Alexis, I could be happy any
where.'; 1 t . : , '(. '.. .
Then be it so,' said the Cossack, joy
ously. 'What ho!' he shouted, at the top
of his ringing, trumpet-like voice. Com
rades,' behold your hetman's bride!
From every mouth to mouth the
words of the Cossack chieftain were re-
peated,and oft as they were uttered wild
shouts of joy rose from the bearded war4
riors; for they had loved the gallant Alex
is from the moment when, a way-worn,
famished and bleeding fugitive, he came
among them. They galloped round and
round the hetman and his fair companion
dizzying circles, like the whirling leaves
of autumn, firing their pistols, brandish-
ng their lances and sabres, and making
the welkin ring with their terrific shouts.
Alvina clung terrified, to the waist of her
over, and he finally silenced the noisy de
monstrations ' by a wave of his hand.
Then, under his leadership, and in more
regular order, the formidable band of
iorsemen pursued their march to the dis
tant solitudes where happiness awaited
their ohieftain and his bride. ; ;
Memory while Drowning.
Singular Anecdotes. One of the
most singular features in psychology . is
the fact, which is perfectly notorious, that
the faculty of memory acquires an ac
tivity and tenacity,' in case of persons
about being drowned, which it never ex
hibits under ordinary circumstances.
An accident occurred some weeks since,
at New York, which threw a number of
persons into the North river. Among
others were Mr. and his sister, " the
first named editor of a weekly, paper in
Philadelphia. There were both saved.
Mr. describes the sensation while un
der, Avater, and in a drawning position, to
be pleasant and peculiar. It seemed to
him every event in his life crowded into
his mind at once. He was sensible of
what was occurring, and expected to
drown, but seemed only to regret that
i an interesting "item." as his . sensa
tions would make should be lost.
in noticing this statement in an ex-
ange I aiSf reminded of the incident,
dissimilar as it is to the one just related
in its general features, had the same re
markable awaTking of. the memory .which
some cases sometimes exhibit. I can
vouch for the truth pf what follows, as
well as testify to vivid recollections in my
own case, when exposed to the hazards of
drowning, reproducing in a few moments
the events of my .entire past life.
i5ome years smce, A held a bond a
gainst B for several hundred dollars, hav
ing some time to run. At its maturity
he found that he had put it away so care
fully that he was unable to find it. Every
search was fruitless. He only knew that
it had not been paid or traded away.
In this dilemma he called on B, related
the "circumstances of its disappearance,
and proposed giving him a receipt as an
offset, or rather an indemnifying bdhd
against its collection if ever found.
To his great surprise B not only refus
ed to ' accept the terms of meeting the
difficulty, but positively denied owing
him any thing, and strongly intimated the
presence of a fraudulent design on the
part of A. Without legal proof, and,
therefore, without redress, he had to en
dure both the loss of his money and the
suspicion of a dishonorable intention, in
urging the claim. Several years passed
away without any change in the nature
of the case, or of -its facts as above, j
en; when, one afternoon, while bathing
in the James river, A, either from inabili
ty to swim, or cramp, s or some other
caused was discovered to be drowning.
.... . - , . -i s - .
He had sunk and risen several times, and
was floating away under the water, when
he was seized and drawn to the shore
The usual remedies were applied to re
susitiate him, and although there were.
signs of life, there was no appearance of
consiousness He was taken home in a
state of complete exhaustion and remain
ed so for some days. -
. On the first return of strength to walk
he left his bed, went to his book case,
took a book, opened it, and handed his
long lost bond to a friend who' was pi es-
sent. . He then told him that when he
was drowning; and sinking, as he suppos
ed, to rise no more, in a moment there
stood out directly before his. mind, as a
picture, every act of his life, from the
hour of his childhood to the moment of
sinking beneath the water, and am
the circumstances, that of putting the
bond in a book, the book itself, and the
place in which he had put it in the book
case. It is needless to say that he re
covered his own with usury.
There is no doubt that this remarkable
quickening of memory results from the
process which in such cases, is going , on
the extinguishment of life. It is some
what analagous to the breaking in of the
light of another world; which, in .so many
well attested cases of death -bed scenes
enables the departed spirit, even before it
has left it's clay tenement, to behold and
exult in the glories of a future state. ' Is
it nol a fair inference, that when the sou
shakes off the clogs and incumbrances o
the body, it will possess capabilities . for
enjoyment, of which on earth it is un
susceptible? As regards the memory, it
will be observed bv most persons, how
readily we forget that which we do, no
aesire to rememDer, ana in tms way we
get rid oi much unnappmess. jan we
do this after death? This is an impor
tant, ' practical question . C Ist's Adver
User, .,'.,". ' r"' . , '.. "Y.
t 'You have destroyed my peace of
mind, Betsy,' said a despairing lover to a
truant lass: - ' ' ' ' 1 ; :
'It can't do much harm. John, for 'twas
but an amazing small piece you had, any
I M ay.'
A Home to Read 'About. '
Way up in the ''Northern Country,"
along where Maine, Vermont, New Hairi
phire and New York border on the Canada
line, there is found "a people" who noth
ing better know or care for, than what
Providence has bestowed upon them.
Thousands never travel three-score miles
from where their lot is cast, and they live
and die in the delusion that the world con
tains little worth caring for, that they have'
not. The Burlington Free Press publish
es a letter from a gentleman who lives up
on an estate in the "far down" portion of
the region almost. edging'on the rest of
creation. His description of the country
is given in reply to the request of a friend
in New York city,. who desired the infor
mation, with a view to emigrate if it prov
ed agreeable. ' ' ;
-' February, 20, 1052. .
D ear Sir : Yours of the, 20th ' is , re
ceived, and I hasten to give you the in
formation desired, for the benefit of your
friend as-follows : :
The soil when you can get at it, iscom-
posed principally of conglomerate, viz : a
mixture, of muck, mass, degayed fern
leaves, paving stones and snow. . , : ..
The face of the country; - when not
covered with snow, is ; covered with a
growth of hemlock, spruce and cedar
timber, except those portions which the
enterprise of former years has attempted
to clear these are '-covered - with ' stumps
rocks, failen trees, and bushes and bram
bles., -,, " "' " . 1 1 '' ' '". '
. . The fruits are various, such as' choke-
cherries, mooseberry, whortleberry, and
black raspberry, the latter in great abun
dance and perfection. . "' '
Among the game is to be found the dor
mestic fowl, the swallow, crow and blue
jay, and in mid-summer, the night hawk
and screech owl. ;. , ; . V
The animals hunted, for their fur : are
the poal cat, the chip-monk, the, stray
dogs- those chiefly esteemed r, for . their
flesh are the muskrat, skunk ; and wood-chuck.-.
- -' - '!,J,'' v.- . ' -.:
The fishes embrace a great variety- from
the tad-pole, to the -pout the , suck
er is salted down for winter use, . ' - - . :
The 'principal ' articles of import, are
dried apples, buffalo coats, ' tea, tobacco,
cotton cloth, molasses," bogus ; cigarsarid
spoiled oysters: , ' " ! Y..',v ".'! Y 1.
The articles of export are few, .being
only; such things as .they: don't wan't
themselves the principal are convicts ;to
Auburn and Sing-Sing Prisons, and emi
grants to California. ' ...
The chief productions are white-head
ed children, which in time grow tobelum
bermen, petllcrs, squires, "deacons, oliti
cians and rogues. , " ' ; ; rJ 1 ' '
Their means of. getting a living are in
genious and varied :the most ostensible,
however, is "dickering," at which they
are very expert, swopping, horses, trad
ing cattle, and getting out manuref hoe
ing coin, acting as. scare crows, and get
ting "down sick,", eating green apples. (
The range of domestic duties is confi
id : altogether to chance and the "woman
folk'' ':;-:; ; " ' .''"'..'.- ";:
The principal business is ah impor-
tinent interference in . otlier 'people's af
fairs, the entire neglect of - their: own,, ex
aggerating evil reports, throwing obstacles
in the way' of. public improvements talk
ing politics, and doing cnor.es. I, ne young
leave the parental roof at a tender ,age,
and commence on their own hook, peddl
ing pop-corn, gingerbread and j molasses
candy." : ' 'r : '' V t;'' .
, The.climate is a cross between Lapland
Siberia ;, not quite so cold as the one, , and
a great deal colder- than the other, but
healthy. The principal diseases, - are
lame .. stom ach, . delirum tremens,- and
"folks is sick." . ..' .j .. ; .
, The articles oi luxury most esteemed,
are salt codfish dried pumpkins and wool
len gowns. " f
: The articles of furniture are a cook
stove, mop-pail and wash-dish. ;v.
: The farming impliments consist : of an
axe, a saw; a log-chain, generally hooked
and a jack-knife. ; ; ' "
Qceer Marriage Ceremony. Judgc
L.'V Bierce, in giving a history of Green
township, Summit county, relates .the
following as the traditional marriage cere
mony used in solemnizing the marriage of
the first couple in that township: t
"Your bromise to take te v'oman you
holt by te hant to pe your1: vife, : and tat
you vill shtick to her through hell, fire
and dunder den I bronounce, you . man
and voman py Cot! . ; - ..
' Rather solubrious that!. -i AVonder what
.the good Justice of the Peace rliaYged. '
'SST A lad, a day or two since, " was
called tp the Witness stand in" the Com
mon Pleas , Court, , whose tender years j
raised doubts of his comoetencv as a wit-1
ness by not understanding the meaning
and obligation of an oath. ' ;
The first question put, was, 'Are you a
son of ' the plaintiff?' . ,
, The little fellow crossing his legs, and
putting about half a paper, of 'Lillin thai'
in his mouth, with the utmost sang" froid
replied: 'Well, , it's", so reported.' He
testified!' "' ' '.'''" :
Retort Courtebits. Polk of Tennes
see (W. IL not James K.) twitted a New
England member of coming . from a sec
tion of country to poor to raise anything
but calves and jackasses, Tre said the
New Englandr. We do raise calves "and
jackasses but we don't send; them to Con"
grcssy as vour State does . .....
ONLY MISTAKEN.
,'A man will own that he is in the wrong
a woman never; she is only mistaken.' '
. . . . ,i. , -, . ...,.., , ... ,4, ,
Funch. , . . ,
. Mr." Punch, did you ever see an enraged
American female? She i the expressed
essence of wild cats.- ' Perhaps you ;didn't
know it when you penned that incendiary
paragraph; or, perlaps you thought that
in crossing the 'big pond' saltwater might
neutralize it; or, perhaps you flattered
yourself we should not see ;it, over here;
but here it is, in my clutches,' hi good
strong English; I am not even 'mistaken.'
Now, if you will bring me a live speci
men of the genus home, who was neve
known 'to ownth'at he was in the wromr
I will draw in my horns and claws,: and
sneak ingloriously back into my American
shell. - But vou Can't do it; Mr.' Punch i
You never, saw that , curiosity,' either hi
John Bull's skin or Brother Jonathan's
Tis an animal which has never yet been
discovered, much less captured. y T-
' A man oAvii he was ;in the wrongf 1 I
guess so!. You might tear him in . pieces
with red-hot pincers,.and he would , keep
on singing out 'I didn't do.it; I, didn't do
it' No, Air. Punch,, a man never.' 'owns
up , wncn lie is m tne wrong: especially it
the 'matter in question be' one '.which he
considers of no .importance; for . instancej
the non-delivery; of a letter, .- which. i-mby
have been entomoed in his pocket for 6ix
weeks. ' ;: 1 --',!
No, sir; he just settles himself down be
hind his dickey, folds his belligerent hands'
across his stubborn diaj)hragm,! plants his
antagonistic feet down on terra' firmaas if
there, were: a stratum of joadstorie beneath- ,
him, and thunders out, - - , v ft. . ; .
'Come one, come all; this rock rfiall'-fly ;-'
Froin its nnn base, as soon as I;- - '' '
... c
i AxxY Iekx.
- True Flag, j : , ' '' V . "
Singrular Wedding Party.
; .A: correspondent' of the Placer'Herald
is responsible for the following:' -
A marriage took place on the night oi
the 1 5th December; at the Nevada; Ilote!
a lady,, not .unknown to ; the California
public, to a gentleman from -Kentucky
now a citizen of this State; he' being the
fifth 'Upon' whom she : has cohftirred Hy
menal honors, and the "ithird whose heacls '
are yet above the sod. By , a strange con
catenation of circumstances her twolast
husbandc, between whom and herself all
marital duties had ceased to exist 'by -the-operation
of the divorce law, had put up
at the Nevada House on the same even
ing; ignorant of , the fact that their former
cava sposa had rested under the same roofl
with, themselves, and,'; also, that they had
both, in former years, been wedded to
the same lady. ; t
Next morning tLey occupied., seats at
the. breakfast' table opposite the . bridal k
party ! Their eyes me with mute but ex
pressive astonishment. -The lady did not
faint, bravely informed her newly acquii
ed lord of her singular si tuation,' and who- "
their'gUcstswere. V:
,; Influenced Tby the nobttness of bis ria
ture and the happy impulses of his heart
he summoned his predecessors to his bri--dal
chamber and' the warmest greetings ;
and congratulations were exchanged be
tween , .the four in the most, unreserved
.. y . . . ... , .. ,
and friendly? manner,, iThe two ex-lords
frankly dedlared ithat they ever found in
the " lady art .excellent'; and faithful ; 'com
panion, and that the v were the authors of
the difficulties wluch'( produced tlunr .sep
aration, the cause being traceable to a too"
frequent use of intoxicatingdrinks.' .'
" The' legal Ubrd ' and ' master declared,
that his affection for his bride was
strengthened by , th e coincidence ,' and that
his happiness, was increased; if-possible
by what had occurred. ' After a few pres--
ents of specimens from their well-fined
purse, me, parties ( separaiea ii:e uvv.
ex-husbands for the ;Atlantie .States, with
the kindest regard of the lady for" the
future wel-fafe of her former husbands.
The most least singular circumstance at--tending
the above is, that the three were--
all married on the J 5th of December--,. -s
i ' - ' - - .
j "Wearing the Breeches.' , . .i
The circumstances which we are abbut
to, relate is true, and, although the ; cene
is laid in aspot which it is hot the prov
ince of any mortal. to . inyado, beiriglthe
truth we must out with it. Do iiot 'con
sider it indelicate but enjoy the joke'i ,f
A" newly married couple' 'awoke the
first morning after j the .vows had, been
spoken, ? iTher husbarid pointed to-; his
Unmentionables which '-'hung on a chair"
hear by,! and said' ' 1 v v' V ;i u ' -
'Wife, do you see those breeches?'.',, ...
'Yes, John!' V ;. : ,!? r
'Well, get up and put them on?
v MpTolm! what do vou'mean! I don't
want to wear "them " J
Then, wife, ailew . me t ?ay that I
will, and please rcpember, that now anti
hereafter I 'wear the breeches!' i an:
It would be a fair presumption to sup'
pose that JyimtviII never , be i a; heri peck-1
ed husband, ; nor his, -yife , one of your"
'strong-minded
woanen7u Dealer
'j$3T The Raeiiie Advocate men Wasn't
seen, he says, d girf jfojr these five', years
There are a few txtUes f both 'genders,
about toita f ,, Those go. naked to , httle a--bvc
the knees, bat as soon as' they find it
ouithegMs put on long etothes, and arw
ladies, the boys put cigars in their mouths
and profanely,-unhang gaters and upset
boxes o'aights- and are gentlemen-.. .
i 1
t i